We started with this, and if there's any city I do NOT want to think about being in right now during a pandemic, it's Las Vegas. And if there's anything that also kinda sucks for people during a pandemic, it's being reminded that going places is hard, expensive, and dangerous. Ahem. Anyway, I guess what I'm saying is, would it have killed him to come up with a new creative plan for this moment, rather than having it feel SO much like another page in his marketing binder?
Then some random dude with glowing red eyes came down from the ceiling. Nothing sets a vibe quite like a demon-angel descending over Sin City underneath the glowing banner of RAYMOND JAMES STADIUM. Seriously, though, this stadium has a whole pirate ship built into it! Could he not have done a pirate thing? If you insist on Las Vegas, T.I. -- the former Treasure Island -- fits RIGHT in!
I guess... if you were there in person, this was for you?
Then The Weeknd burst out of this portal like the host of one of those game shows where 100 people are seated all up and down a giant wall and are slowly eliminated.
Then, the Weeknd appeared to run backstage, as if he had forgotten something. It was shot very close up, and chaotically, as he ran around and spun around. I have rarely wanted to throw up from a Super Bowl experience SOLELY because of the camera work.
THIS was the part of the show where I thought, "All those people in the stands right now are like, "We could have just stayed home and not had to watch this horrible game in an uncomfortable chair with bad food, and THEN deal with traffic." He was not, I don't think, within live sight of the fans.
And then his army of face-bandaged dudes poured in there, and I thought, "Wow, this choreography went HORRIBLY WRONG," before realizing they had been directed merely to bump into each other and ricochet off the walls. If this photo seems unappealingly blurry... that was the vibe.
However, the bandages did blend in very well with their N95 masks, so I guess... that's a thing.
Let's at least credit him for looking GREAT.
Chiefs Buccaneers Super Bowl Football, Tampa, United States - 07 Feb 2021
And if you like an army of creepy bandaged clones marching across a football field, this finale was your catnip.
They... tried?
I guess they all passed out from exertion.
The better to see the fireworks, I guess?